What are common indications of an approaching cold front?

An approaching cold front is typically associated with specific weather patterns that can help pilots anticipate changes in conditions. When a cold front moves into an area, it often disrupts the existing weather, leading to scattered to broken cloud ceilings.

This phenomenon occurs because the lifting of warmer, moist air ahead of the cold front creates instability. As this air is forced upward, it cools and condenses, forming clouds that can be scattered or broken. These cloud formations can result in a range of weather, including thunderstorms, but they are not uniform like the overcast skies suggested in the first option.

In contrast, overcast skies with fog often indicate a warm front rather than a cold front, where moisture is gradually lifted. Continuous rain is also more characteristic of warm fronts, where steady precipitation may occur as the warm air rises over the cold air. High winds with no precipitation might occur in various weather conditions but are not definitive indicators of an approaching cold front, where precipitation is typically present due to the lifting action on the warm moist air.

Therefore, the indication of scattered to broken ceilings is the most accurate choice reflecting the conditions that typically accompany an approaching cold front.